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The charming Tyrolean town of San Martino di Castrozza (1450m) nestled at the base of the Pale di San Martino in the Italian Dolomites. |
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THE ALPINE ADVENTURE AGENCY
INTERNATIONAL COOKING SCHOOL SERIES
PRESENTS:
A TEN-DAY, ALL-INCLUSIVE
"I WANT IT ALL" DREAM COOKING VACATION
IN THE ITALIAN TYROLEAN ALPS AND VENICE, ITALY
EXPLORING REGIONAL DOC WINES, GRAPPA AND CUISINE
OF THE TRENTINO - SUD TIROL - ALTO ADIGE REGION OF ITALY.
AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
Package Pricing and Terms and conditions are located at the bottom of this page.
A portion of each package is donated to Feed the Children and Doctors Without Borders.
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OUR TYROLEAN WINE, GRAPPA AND CUISINE COOKING VACATION IS UNIQUE!
Picture yourself in the kitchen of a high mountain dairy farmhouse - the polenta is cooking in a copper cauldron over a picturesque fire while you are learning how to make cheese with the farmer's wife. Just outside the window, the tinkling music of cowbells echoes through the air as cows graze in the nearby meadows. After sampling the fresh cheese and enjoying a glass of regional wine, you step outside into the beautiful sunshine and crisp and clean mountain air to sit on the terrace and inspired by your surroundings...
If you are considering a dream cooking vacation in Italy, and want an exciting and dynamic wine and culinary experience that goes beyond the more familiar cuisine of regions such as Tuscany (Florence), Emilia-Romagna (Bologna), Lazio (Rome), Campania (Naples), and Sicily, you have found your dream cooking vacation. Our Trentino Cooking School is the only one of its kind in Italy!
We invite you to discover one of Italy's best kept secrets: the unique flavors and complex wines of a little-known region of Italy that is rich with majestic alpine peaks, charming townspeople, and beautiful Tyrolean villages that dot the landscape of one of the most beautiful places on Earth, the Italian Dolomites in the Italian Alps! Let us truly immerse you into the traditional kitchens of the Trentino/ Alto Adige - Sud Tirol Region, where Austrian and Italian culinary influences mingle to create a unique flavor and style in the gastronomic culture of this romantic and visually exciting region. We are the only cooking vacation specialists offering culinary experiences to this region of Italy, and are thrilled to gift our students with the opportunity to study with some of the top chefs, enologists, and sommeliers in the region as well as charming home cooks in their private kitchens! |
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STRUCTURE IN YOUR TYROLEAN COOKING VACATION:
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EXECUTIVE CHEF GIUSEPPE CAVALLARI was born and raised in the Veneto region in a town called Lamon, famous for their production of the most desired variety of the Borlotti bean, the Lamon Bean, which has been cultivated in the area of Belluno since the 16th century. At the age of 14, he made his way to Venice, where he worked as a kitchen assistant in a small, charming hotel on the Grand Canal. After only two years, he was promoted to assistant Chef in a first-class hotel. For eight years, he worked with some of the most famous chefs of that time.
At the age of 24, he returned to the beloved mountains that he missed so much. He applied to work as a chef in the internationally renown historical hotel, The Grand Hotel Des Alpes, located in San Martino di Castrozza in the Italian Dolomites (Italian Tyrolean Alps). For twenty-three years, he learned the "Art of the Kitchen" under the tutelage of the great Chef, Renon Albino II. Together, they participated in many Italian culinary competitions throughout the years. Among his many distinctions, Giuseppe was awarded the prestigious Porcino D'Oro award in Sardegna.
As the Executive Master Chef for the last five years (the period during which Chef Renon retired permanently), Giuseppe expertly oversees the top-notch kitchen of the Grand Hotel Des Alpes and renown restaurant, La Canisela. One of the highlights of his career was receiving personal compliments from the the most famous Italian Master Chef, Chef Gianfranco Vissani.
We are thrilled that Chef Giuseppe has agreed to teach the formal class portion of our Tyrolean Cooking Vacation included in our International Cooking School Series.
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YOUR TOUR ORGANIZER AND GUIDE:
DANIELA ANDERSON, the owner of The Alpine Adventure Agency, is the creator and director of program development for our International Cooking School Series. A bi-lingual, Italian-American who has shared a lifetime between the United States and Italy, she has an extensive background in attending culinary workshops and teaching cooking classes of all kinds to all ages throughout the North East United States. Her knowledgeable background in the culinary arts and her lifelong friendships with families and business owners in the international regions we visit allows her to develop top-notch cooking programs with premiere chefs, enologists, sommeliers, culinary experts and provide delightful experiences in the kitchens of local families who have passed down original regional recipes through many generations.
Daniela has taken part in culinary workshops and classes throughout her life, beginning her formal culinary instruction during high school when she decided to work in a well-known bakery and pastry shop in the Washington D.C. area to further her knowledge in the area of baking. She has worked as a free-lance cake decorator for more than 20 years, and has taught the art of cake decoration for over a decade. In her mid-twenties, Daniela developed a division of children's cooking programs for a renown resort in the Adirondacks in New York. This was at the personal request of the resort's owner, a gourmet and wine connoiseur who has spent years enjoying culinary workshops with top international chefs and working with enologists to add to the collection of rare wines in his private reserve. She also developed a series of cooking classes exploring diverse cultural cuisine for a very active community center in Harrisburg, PA.
During your all-inclusive, dream cooking vacations, Daniela has created an unbelievably diverse program of scenic morning excursions for guests in our programs, immersing you into the culture, and allowing you to experience daily life not as a tourist, but as an extended member of the family. Daniela personally leads the morning group outings, providing translation and insight into the local culture throughout your cooking vacation. Her goal is to leave you breathless with emotion at the rugged beauty of your surroundings, and feel the warmth and charm of the towns and the people in your hearts. She strives for her guests to have singular experiences they will remember the rest of their lives, and go home with Italy in their souls.
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MENU FOR THE SIX FORMAL CLASS SESSIONS WITH CHEF GIUSEPPE CAVALLARI:
DAY 2:
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
DAY 6:
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Guests participating in any of our scenic or educational workshop vacations enjoy private cooking demonstrations with well-known regional chefs in the geographic locations we visit. Here, one of the executive chefs of the Malga Ces, one of the most renown restaurants in San Martino di Castrozza and the Primiero Valley in the Italian Dolomites, prepares the dough for Spaetzle, a regional favorite, for the hands-on portion of the demonstration. Photo: Daniela Anderson.
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LOCATION:
This special scenic and culinary cooking vacation is based in San Martino di Castrozza (1450m), nestled at the base of the famous Pale di San Martino mountain chain, crown jewel of the Italian Dolomites, located just 68 miles North East of Venice, Italy. Rich in history and tradition, the resort town of San Martino di Castrozza began as a cherished alpine playground over 150 years ago frequented by European aristocracy and royalty. Today, it remains a charming, highly considered, European resort destination for all backgrounds and ages. Click here for some excellent videos on San Martino and the Primiero valley. The last day of our tour is spent in legendary Venice, Italy.
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VIDEO: EMOTIONS OF WINTER
SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA, PRIMIERO AND VANOI
Video courtesy of the Azienda di Turismo San Martino, Primiero e Vanoi.
The video is narrated in English and presents the history and culture of San Martino di Castrozza as a celebrated and cherished alpine ski resort town.
VIDEO: EMOTIONS OF SUMMER
SAN MARTINO DI CASTROZZA, PRIMIERO AND VANOI
"Emotions of Winter" can be found in our section below describing our winter workshop. Video courtesy of the Azienda di Turismo San Martino, Primiero e Vanoi.
The video is narrated in English and presents the history and culture of San Martino di Castrozza and the surrounding valleys.
VIDEO: EVENTI DA FAVOLA
SAN MARTINO, PRIMIERO AND VANOI
Video courtesy of the Azienda di Turismo San Martino, Primiero e Vanoi.
This video is a compilation of the people, seasonal activities and cultural events in the region.
Many of our outings, such as our private visit to thecheese factory, are represented in this video.
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| We spoil our guests with some of the most beautiful panoramic views in the world. Here the Pale di San Martino are seen from the terrace of the Malga Ces. |
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| Daniela with guests in Val Canali. |
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The Alpine Adventure Agency vacations are all-inclusive of your lodging and meals as described in the daily itinerary, and all expenses and transportation incurred in direct relation to the specified group activities as stated in the vacation package. Transfer to and from the Marco Polo Airport (Venice) and San Martino di Castrozza is included in your package. Expenses incurred during your free, non-scheduled time, including meals, are not covered. Wine degustations are optional and can be added when you book your trip. Click here to read our full Terms and Conditions for the "I Want It All" dream vacation. |
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Three of Daniela's dearest friends in the world, the internationally renown yodeling trio, the Beatrich, will serenade us in an after-dinner private concert during the workshop. They even teach our guests how to yodel! Photo: courtesy of the Beatrich. |
| PRICING FOR PACKAGE INCLUDING MORNING GROUP EXCURSIONS |
PRICING FOR PACKAGE NOT INCLUDING MORNING GROUP EXCURSIONS |
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Transfer to and from Marco Polo airport in Venice, Italy and San Martino di Castrozza.
All accomodations
All meals except for 2 lunches and one dinner as detailed in the daily itinerary.
All expenses and transportation associated with all scheduled group activities and meals.
Daily group excursions including the following culinary experiences: cooking demos in various locations, a visit to a cheese factory, and an optional degustation of several different grappe.
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare
Expenses of a personal nature
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Transfer to and from Marco Polo airport in Venice, Italy and San Martino di Castrozza.
All accomodations
All breakfasts and dinners except one dinner as detailed in the daily itinerary.
DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare
Expenses of a personal nature
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PACKAGE PRICE IN A STANDARD DOUBLE ROOM:
1856 EUROS
Please contact us for single, triple and quadruple room rates.
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PACKAGE PRICE IN A STANDARD DOUBLE ROOM:
1606 EUROS
Please contact us for single, triple and quadruple room rates.
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| OPTION TO ADD ONE OR MORE OF THE 6 THREE-HOUR COOKING LESSONS OFFERED "A LA CARTE:" | OPTION TO ADD THE FULL SET OF 6 THREE-HOUR COOKING LESSONS OFFERED | OPTION TO ADD THE "SIPPING WITH THE SOMMELIERS" MINI-PACKAGE: |
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Each three-hour lesson may be added to either the All-inclusive package or the "Vacation Stimulus" Package:
30 Euros per lesson.
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The full set of 6 three-hour cooking lessons may be added to either the All-Inclusive package or the "Vacation Stimulus" package:
120 Euros
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The "Sipping with the Sommeliers" mini-package may be added to any of the combinations:
120 Euros.
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The Grand Hotel Des Alpes and La Canisela Restaurant in San Martino di Castrozza, Italy, are renown for their award-winning chefs. Students in our Tyrolean Cooking Vacation enjoy six 3-hour lessons in the kitchen with Master Executive Chef Giuseppe Cavallari and his team. Photo: Gianluca Rimondi.

ExecutiveChef Giuseppe Cavallari.
Daniela and Stephen at the top of the Tognola with the Pale di San Martino in the background and the town of San Martino di Castrozza down belo
The Pensione Hermann / Ermanno (Daniela's great-grandmother and grandmother's hotel) in Merano, Italy. Merano is located along the Brenner Pass on the border of Austria and Italy in the Sud Tirol - Alto Adige region of the Italian Alps. Photo: Courtesy of Daniela Anderson.

